Joe Rogan can’t help but marvel at the hand speed and technique of featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
During a recent episode of his JRE podcast with neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, the longtime UFC color commentator was absolutely beaming while watching a clip of ‘El Matador’ hitting pads.
“One of the things that is phenomenal about him is his technique,” Rogan said. “His technique is perfect. There’s no fat in his technique. No wasted movements so when an opportunity presents itself, everything is so fast because his technique is so streamlined. Look at how he hits the pads—[Floyd] Mayweather is a great example of that as well—some of the best hands in the sport. UFC featherweight champion and knocked out [Alexander] Volkanovski, maybe the greatest of all time.
Ilia Topuria on the Pads is a true work of art. 🔥
via: @Topuriailia / #UFC pic.twitter.com/uoMgP6bTAJ
— MMA.PROS.PICK (@MMAPROSPICK) August 21, 2024
“The speed man… The f*cking speed of that,” Rogan said while commenting on the above clip. “Look at the hand speed. F*cking incredible. If you know how difficult that is to do and to do it that fast… I mean, these are like 5-6 punches per second and just phenomenal technique.”
Topuria, of course, rose to fame last February with his stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to claim the 145-pound crown. The win also kept Topuria’s ‘O’ intact, moving him to a perfect 15-0 in his mixed martial arts career.
On October 26, Topuria will defend his title for the first time when he meets featherweight mainstay and current BMF titleholder, Max Holloway.
Joe Rogan Agrees with Floyd Mayweather’s Mid-Fight Firing of Referee Hector Afu
While comparing Ilia Topuria to legendary pugilist Floyd Mayweather, Rogan commented on Mayweather’s recent exhibition bout against John Gotti III in Mexico City.
While the fight itself was nothing to write home about, the second round provided a rather interesting moment when ‘Money’ literally fired referee Hector Afu after he warned Mayweather for landing a blow to the back of Gotti’s head. Disagreeing with the call, a heated Mayweather stopped the fight and told the referee to get out of the ring, prompting the commission to replace him mid-fight.
Ref calls a bogus hit to back of the head on Mayweather and tempers flare before the end of the 2nd round… referees are changed as well 😮💨
🎥: @DAZNBoxing | #MayweatherGotti
— Frontline Boxing (@FrontlineBoxing) August 25, 2024
“The first referee was terrible and the referee said Mayweather hit [Gotti III] behind the head,” Rogan said. “Absolutely incorrect call. Floyd threw a right hand and it caught him on the side of the head and the referee claimed it was behind the head so Floyd fired the referee in the middle of the bout. He stops the bout and he’s like, ‘Get the f*ck out of here.’
“It’s Floyd Mayweather. What’s the referee gonna do? Say, ‘F*ck you’ or stop the fight. Also, they’re in Mexico City. You’d get killed. Just get out of the f*cking ring, buddy.”
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed once the referee was replaced and the two fighters finished their eight-round money grab.
“If anybody’s qualified to say get out of here, it’s f*cking Floyd Mayweather, the best boxer of all time,” Rogan concluded. “He’s 100% correct. That referee made a giant stupid error.”
Watch the full JRE episode below:
